The Well-Rounded Matrix World

I'll admit it, the worst part about this series of shorts is its...

...title. I mean, 'The Animatrix' has to be one of the worst puns ever (the combination of 'anime', commonly pronounced as 'an-nee-meh' and 'matrix'). It sounds like it was made by the same guy that proposed the 'jump-to-conclusions mat'. Sheesh.

But that's about the only fault. For my cons I wrote 'Doesn't shed much light into Matrix questions', but its not supposed to.

You see, the 'Animatrix' could be well what convinces Matrix viewers that a world removed from Neo does exist within the movies, that Zion and the 'fate of the world' does not revolve entirely around Keanu Reeves' alter ego. What the Animatrix does is expand the world of the Matrix gorgeously, providing glimpses into the real and virtual universe of the Matrix. What we are left with is a world that's very colorful, and finally a backdrop that rounds out the whole story.

The DVD set that is being reviewed is 9 short movies; this is what you get for buying the DVD, as opposed to just viewing them on the Animatrix site (http://www.theanimatrix.com). The site only releases four of the nine that are on the DVD (The Second Renaissance, parts I and II, A Detective Story, and Program). What makes the DVD worth buying is the superb animation (with work from artists that created Ninja Scroll, Aeon Flux and Final Fantasy the Movie) and well-written stories.

Now note, the Animatrix doesn't actually shed much light into the questions posed, especially those revealed in the new Matrix Reloaded, however, it does provide a glimpse into the origins into some of the happenings since the first movie (Last Flight of the Osiris, Kid's Story, The Second Renaissance).

The selling point of the DVDs is the animation (Matriculate and Kid's Story come to mind), yet even those unfamiliar with anime or not general fans overall will find themselves riveted by the fantastic art (much like how Waking Life happened to be such a hit). The Wachowski Brothers have really done their homework in finding the most unique anime directors in the world, and the overall quality of the pieces attests to this.

And the storytelling, besides just fleshing out the world of the Matrix, also poses intellectual fodder of its own by questioning slavery in any form, the nature of human beings, the definition of sentience, and the power of the human mind.

Overall, the DVD certainly doesn't disappoint. Visuals and plot are top notch, as well as the sound as Don Davis, who does the Matrix score contributes, as well as several other artists (such as Juno Reactor, Kruder and Dorfmeister, Supreme Beings of Leisure). The action plays like a Matrix movie, although there are times when its downplayed to let the story progress. Well-rounded, this package is well worth a watch, and definitely if one is even slightly intrigued by the world of the Matrix.